Drecksis backpedaled into the room they were all in.

The goblins gave a cry and charged them.

Drecksis took a position to the side of the doorway and Serion, Tombe, and Revenance let lose. Arrows and rocks flew. Serion quickly cast three Arcane Bombs just on the other side of the door, they would take a few seconds to explode but when they did it should be devastating. Then he cast Shadow Bolt. While not as damaging as Arcane Spear it had a chance to confuse the enemy.

When the first goblin started through the door Drecksis used 2 hands to swing his sword right into the unlucky goblin. It must have been a critical attack because it chopped him in half. The next goblin let out a shriek of terror trying to get back but the others pushed it forward. An arrow suddenly appeared in its chest.

They kept up the barrage until the Arcane Bombs went off with a deafening roar one after the other. In the small space the goblin party was blown apart. Drecksis stepped inside and quickly struck down two that were trying to get back on their feet. He also started hacking into the corpses, you could never tell if they were faking death. Goblins were sneaky.

With the short battle concluded Serion felt a lifting sensation. He felt like he weighed less then air. The feeling left him a second later and he realized what it could be. Opening his handbook he flipped to the most recent page.

9 Goblin scouts killed.

90 Experience Gained.

Congratulations you are now Level 2!

10 stat points awarded.

Your Arcane affinity has grown by 1!

He quickly dumped all 10 into Willpower for extra mana.

“Anyone else level up?” asked Serion.

“Ya, Yep, and Hell ya came back.

“So we got Goblin scouts which means there’s a tribe around here somewhere.”

The next door revealed a gigantic tunnel, both directions they looked down were covered in darkness. It seemed to be some kind of ancient sewer system.

Serion cast a few lights as far as he could. They shone like beacons in the darkness.

“Well shit,” spoke Revenance. “Might as well ring a dinner bell.”

“We could go back to the surface,” stated Serion.

“Nope fuck that. Here’s where the exp is. If we get the others to join us we’ll start getting reduced gains too. They are just low level smucks anyway,” Drecksis calmly said.

He looked both ways and seemed to make up his mind as he started walking down the right path.

When they were almost under the first light orb Serion cast another one in the distance. Something briefly ran through the light heading away from them.

“How nice, they’re gonna set out the nice china for us,” whispered Tombe.

“Let’s pick up our pace before they set too much out then,” as Drecksis started jogging.

The group kept up a steady pace. Serion kept casting arcane light every time they got near another one. After a handful of lights one of them stopped a shorter distance then the rest.

It had hit a wall. Two more paths to choose from, right or left. Drecksis didn’t stop and started going down the right path again. Serion cast another light in the distance and another towards the other way.

After two more lights they came to a makeshift barrier shoulder high. Slowing down they cautiously neared it. Illuminating it a handful of goblins jumped out from hiding, shrill warcrys echoing off the walls. They threw some small spears at the group. A few hit Drecksis’ shield and armor but he laughed as he charged the barrier. One glanced Serion’s arm, it stung like a motherfucker and he really hoped it wasn’t poisoned.

Tombe was casting a spell holding both hands towards their foes and Revenance shot arrow after arrow against any goblin foolish enough to stand out in the open.

A larger than average goblin jumped down and started fighting Drecksis in mortal combat. Serion decided to make the odds a little more in their favor by casting Veil of Shadows. Taking advantage Drecksis quickly hacked down the monster and screamed his triumph. The other goblins looked panicked and started routing.

“No you don’t,” Tombe chuckled.

A brick dropped from the ceiling smashing the barricade apart, another flattening the lead goblin. The second and third being close together suffered a similar fate. Serion decided on a few more veils to stop the rest from getting away. Confused by the sudden darkness the last two goblins slowed down trying to see clearly. One went down with three arrows sticking out of its back. The other was cut multiple times and fell by Drecksis hands.

“I wonder if the others are having this much luck,” mused Serion aloud.

“Ya, about that,” said Revenance pointing behind them.

Looking back the group could make out a massive rat. The thing was huge taking up most of the tunnel. At its paws scurried dozens of other rats. The small ones only made the other look bigger.

“So that’s why they built a barricade. Who knew? Let’s run,” Serion quickly spoke. Drecksis seemed like he wanted to argue but quickly joined in. The man could be lootcentric sometimes.

Now the group was in a full run down the tunnels. Serion made sure to keep the way ahead lit.

“Tombe, can you drop the ceiling behind us?” panted Serion.

“No, that terra manipulation almost took all my mana,” Tombe answered sadly.

“Sadness.”

They came up to another branching tunnel in their way. This time Drecksis took off down the left side. Serion shot another light ahead of his group revealing a few goblins with picks hacking at the brick walls.

“Run and gun!” commanded Serion.

Drecksis plowed in the nearest goblins hurling them to the ground. Not stopping for a moment he kept the rush going. Revenance followed close behind stabbing the downed creatures. Tombe shot off a few rocks tripping some runners. Serion didn’t stop running. With low wisdom the only spell he could get off instantly was his little magic light.

The little goblin mining operation kept going on. He could make out holes in the walls now. They were building a network of new tunnels. Industrious little fuckers weren’t they? The sewer opened into a large cavern covered in scaffolding and miners were hard at work.

From the commotion their victims had made they were now the center of attention. Maybe a hundred diggers had stopped to watch them. Except the ones close to Drecksis, they simply dropped their tools and ran for their lives. After a few more attacks he also seemed to understand where they were and what they were doing. Goblins were very much cowards unless they had numbers on their side. Like right now.

Serion spied a handful of goblins with buckets full of rocks. They seemed to be headed somewhere.

“That tunnel! Go go go.”

They hurried to the tunnel bashing and slashing anything that was close enough. The goblins seemed to be rallying to the center of the cave. A tall goblin was shouting while holding up two swords. They were getting pumped up for a charge.

Passing into the just barely tall enough shaft he motioned back to the entrance.

“Tombe can you plug the hole? Otherwise we’re going to be cramped in a minute.”

“Give me a sec,” said Tombe as he started casting.

Revenance and Serion started shooting the closest goblins. They looked really pissed now. Few had weapons but most had at least a rock in their hands.

The boss gave a shout and pointed a sword in their direction. Like they really needed to know where they should go, perhaps they did.

“Hurry up Tombe” Serion cried.

“Patience is a virtue.” Tombe quietly spoke.

“Really of all times you start doing movie quotes?!” snarled Revenance.

The ground shook and a barrier sprang up into the entrance.

“It’s only chest high Tombe, we need it blocked!” yelled Serion.

“Sorry, that’s the best I can do. It’s much easier moving stone already formed. This rocky stuff is tough.”

“Ahhh dammit. Let’s do this!”

Summoning several Arcane Bombs he chugged a mana potion and cast some more. It didn’t matter where he put them, a horde of struggling bodies were outside.

The goblins had reached the barrier and were hurling rocks at them. Luckily Tombe could actually do something with those. Some went to the sides or shot back at their throwers. Serion kept drinking mana potions down and casting more bombs. The first few were detonating and some goblins were going down but not enough.

Revenance was goring any of them that tried climbing over but he knew it was only a matter of time before too many got past his guard and overwhelmed them.

Tombe cast several stone spikes on the outside spearing several goblins. The ones in the back couldn’t see the danger and pushed their fellows into them creating monster shish kabobs. He had also started on his potions.

“It’s been nice knowing you guys. Wish there were more booze and girls involved though.” Said Revenance.

“Ha don’t we all?” Tombe laughed.

“We just got to hold out till momma gets here.”

With good timing the giant rat that had been following them let out a titanic roar. The goblins stopped their push forward and turned collectively towards the sewer tunnel. Revenance got in a undefended blows.

Hundreds of giant rats came in before big momma made her entrance. Upon seeing the goblins she let out another cry.

Ah goblins, you got to love their little black hearts. Apparently giant rats are where they drew the line. They were done with any fighting and fled in all directions.

“Let’s go before we get any more unwanted attention,” Serion said moving back from the view.

The three set out. There was only one to go now unless they felt like being chew toys. They didn’t.

The goblins had hacked rough steps into the stone. Carefully navigating their way up they came upon a hulking figure moving down to meet them. Taking up arms they were glad it turned out to only be Drecksis.

“I found the goblin camp. Place is huge,” he told them.

Behind them a roar echoed.

“Thanks for the help asshole,” Tombe sarcastically thanked.

“No problem. Anytime,” Drecksis replied.